Best Day Trips from Reykjavik

Iceland is a beautiful destination easily accessible from the East coast of the USA and Europe. Thanks to budget airlines or stopovers included in USA-Europe flight fees, it has never been this simple to stop in Iceland for a long weekend. And while not everyone is keen on going on a multiday road trip adventure, day trips from Reykjavik are a great way to make the most of your stay.

Whether you want to go whale watching, hiking to lava fields, soak in hot water springs or visit waterfalls, Reykjavik is the best city to stay in for a few days while enjoying a few day tours.

In the below guide, we have listed all the beautiful places you can visit within a day from Reykjavik either by driving on your own or by joining a tour. We have included all tips and links to our recommended places and tour companies. We hope this will help you prepare for your time in Reykjavik.

Best day Trips From Reykjavik, Iceland

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1. Golden Circle
2. Reykjanes Peninsula
3. South Coast waterfalls
4. Wildlife watching
5. Northern Lights
6. Blue Lagoon
7. Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
8. Other activities

Golden Circle from Reykjavik: Classic Route

The Classic Golden Circle Route is an easy day trip from Reykjavik into the backcountry. This sightseeing loop goes through 4 main landmarks in the west of the country: Thingvellir National Park, Haukadalur Geothermal Fields, Gullfoss Waterfall and Kerid Crater. The Golden Circle road trip is about 250km long and, including stops for visits and photos, usually takes a full day.

• Thingvellir is the first National Park created in Iceland and also the unique UNESCO Heritage Site in the country. Located right on the Mid-Atlantic Rift, it is a great spot to see the Eurasian and North American tectonic plate ridges. Here, the plates are drifting apart creating large fissures where you can walk through and even snorkel! Thingvellir National Park is also an important historical landmark in Iceland (home of the Althing meetings back in 930 AD).
• At Haukadalur Geothermal Fields you can see mud pools, steam vents and geysers. Stokkur which is the only Geyser currently active (Geysir is dormant), can spread water up to 40 m high every 5 to 10 min. It is one of the only places in Europe to see such geothermal activity.
• Gullfoss waterfall is definitely one of the most powerful and beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Here, the river Hvítá tumbles over twice before disappearing into a Canyon filled with rainbows on sunny days.
• Kerid Crater is a colourful extinct volcano with a lake at its bottom. There are no other places like it and it is really worth stopping here!

Read: Self-Drive Guide to the Golden Circle

How to go on a Golden Circle Road trip from Reykjavik?

One of the best ways to visit the Golden Circle is by car. You can rent one at the airport or directly in Reykjavik. By driving the Golden Circle on your own, you will have the advantage to stop anywhere you want and maybe adding a couple of detours to the route. There are in fact several lesser-known places you can visit such as the Secret lagoon or Bruarfoss Waterfalls.

If you are interested in driving the Golden Circle on your own, you can read our dedicated guide. It is filled with practical information and all the different places you can visit on the Golden Circle route.

However, renting a car can be expensive and tiring. If you don’t have the legal age to rent a car (25 years old), don’t feel like driving on the right side of the road or are worried about the weather conditions, we can only recommend you join a tour. Most tourists who visit Iceland for a few days usually prefer this because it is safe and easy. It is ideal if you only have a few days in the country.

You can choose between half-day or full-day tours from Reykjavik. The full-day tours usually start early in the morning (around 8 am) and follow the entire loop with a stop at Kerid crater lake. Make sure to check the itinerary as many tours skip Kerid and don’t really drive the entire loop of the Golden Circle.

There are also a few companies that include extra stops at the Blue Lagoon or Secret Lagoon (entrance fees included). These are great options for those who wish to combine a few activities near Reykjavik within one day. For more ideas on where to soak in and relax, check out our article about the best hot springs in Iceland.

Note: Due to dangerous volcanic activity nearby, the Blue Lagoon has been closed. To check the latest new, visit the official website here.

Note that tour companies will mention one or two meeting points. If your hotel is too far from these bus stops, you can require a pick-up at (or near) your hotel for an extra fee – usually about €10 per person.

Reykjanes Peninsula

The Reykjanes peninsula is going thru volcanic activity and is currently mostly closed to the public for security reason. Before attempting to visit the Reykjanes peninsula please make sure to read the latest information on SafeTravel.is and on Verdur.is – The current eruption activity are very serious and not a touristic attraction like the one from 2021 & 2022.

Until recently, Reykjanes was mostly overlooked by tourists who only visited the peninsula to relax at the Blue Lagoon or catch a plane at the international airport. However, with the eruption of the volcano Fagradalsfjall back in March 2021, the world discovered the Reykjanes peninsula had a lot more to offer.

In fact, the southwestern part of Iceland sits entirely on the Mid-Atlantic rift which makes it one of the most active places in the country with geothermal fields, hot water springs and volcanic eruptions.

• Bruin Milli Heimsalfa (the bridge between the continents) is a really fun place to stop and walk from the Eurasian continent to North America within seconds.
• At the Gunnuhver Hot Spring, you will have the chance to see boiling waters and steam vents. The orange soil and white steam offer a nice photo opportunity with the Reykjanesviti Lighthouse in the background.
• Hike for a couple of hours to see the Fagradalsfjall Volcano and the lava field built up around Geldingadalir during a few months of the eruption. As of December 2021, there have not been any new lava flows detected at the crater however there has been large activity with more than 3,000 earthquakes per day in the area and an ongoing uplift. Might be worth keeping an eye on it.
• Seltun Geothermal field is an accessible site for boiling mud pools and hissing fumaroles. There are boardwalks that lead to a nice viewpoint of the site and the valley behind.
• There are a lot more stops that can be included in your Reykjanes peninsula road trip: Lake Grænavatn, Krisuvikurberg cliffs (where you can see puffins in summer), Lake Kleifarvatn and Garður lighthouse.

How to visit the Reykjanes Peninsula from Reykjavik?

The Reykjanes peninsula is going thru volcanic activity and is currently mostly closed to the public for security reason. Before attempting to visit the Reykjanes peninsula please make sure to read the latest information on SafeTravel.is and on Verdur.is – The current eruption activity are very serious and not a touristic attraction like the one from 2021 & 2022.

Just like for the Golden Circle, you can rent a car and drive around the peninsula. Most places are signposted and have free parking. Because it is at the doorstep of the International airport, Reykjanes peninsula is actually a good first day of your road trip in Iceland. In this 7-day road trip itinerary to the South Coast of Iceland, you will find more details.

To visit the Reykjanes peninsula on your own, half a day should be enough. But, if you want to either hike to the volcano, go to the Blue Lagoon or do both, we would recommend the entire day. Though, it is important to check the weather forecast and the safety warnings the government issues on this website before hiking to the volcano.

There currently NO GUIDED TOURS to the Volcano. It is also forbidden to visit on your own.

A lot of tourists and locals hike by night to see the red lava (when erupting). Though, the trails can be challenging with low visibility, large rocks and slippery areas. If you aren’t experienced, you can join a hiking tour. There are a few companies offering evening tours to see Fagradalsfjall volcano. Having done both (solo hike & with a tour) we think both are good options. If you don’t have access to a car, it is worth going on a tour, though we would not recommend the one we went with as the guide was just awful. Instead, we will recommend the tour our friends did and highly speak of:

On these tours, don’t expect to learn much about geology. If you want a tour with someone who can really share about the volcanic activity in Iceland, this one is led by a Geologist guide.

Most Volcano hike tours will start early in the evening, with a stop at the Seltun Hot Springs before reaching the Geldingadalir valley. If you want to visit the rest of the Reykjanes peninsula landmarks, you will need to join a Full-Day tour. All of the Reykjanes tours currently include the volcano hike. Here are the best option available for booking online:

• Active Volcano Hike and Geothermal Tour – 10 hours – €65 – Rated 4.7/5 stars with 100+ reviews – Hike to an erupting volcano in Geldingadalir valley, visit the Bridge Between Continents, see the majestic Reykjanesviti Lighthouse, witness the beauty of Lake Kleifarvatn, and admire Gunnuhver Hot Springs on this once in a lifetime tour from Reykjavík.
• Reykjanes Peninsula, Volcanic Hike & Blue Lagoon Option – 9 to 11 hours – €79 (Blue lagoon entrance included = €149) – Rated 4.6/5 stars with 50+ reviews – Explore the freshest lava fields in Iceland on a thrilling tour of the Geldingadalir eruption site and the Reykjanes peninsula. Upgrade to visit the Blue Lagoon after.

South Coast Day Trip From Reykjavik

A bit fit further out from Reykjavik but still feasible on a day trip, is the South Coast of Iceland. It can be a long trip, but it is really worth visiting some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. In our opinion, the best day trip to the south coast from Reykjavik is to drive to Vik and back. On the way, you should stop at the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss, Gljufrabui and Skogafoss as well as at the Black sand beach of Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey lighthouse.

• Seljalandsfoss and Gljufrabui waterfalls are located next to each other about 130km southeast of Reykjavik. While the first one is famous for the trail passing behind the waterfall, the second is a little less known but a beautiful gem is hidden away in a gorge.
• Skogafoss is another beautiful waterfall on the south coast. Its large water stream looks like a curtain and is often covered with rainbows! If you have time, there is a nice viewpoint accessible on foot from where starts a hike leads to many more waterfalls upstream.
• If you don’t have enough time to visit the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon further east, Sólheimajökull glacier is a great place close to Reykjavik to see and even walk on a glacier.
• At Dyrhólaey lighthouse the views over the “Endless Black beach”, the sea and Eyjafjallajökull Ice cap are incredible. In summer, it is a great spot to see puffins!
• Near the Reynisfjara Beach car park, you will find a beautiful wall of basalt columns and an impressive cave. This is a nice spot to chill out before heading back to Reykjavik.
• Vik, this is a small town on the other side of Reynisfjara Beach. There isn’t much around except its lovely church (offering a nice viewpoint) and a couple of petrol stations.
• If you have time on the way back to Reykjavik, and if the weather permits it, you can walk the 4-km trail (one-way) to the famous abandoned Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck.

How to visit the South Coast from Reykjavik within a day?

A return trip by car from Reykjavik to Vik is about 400km return (5-hour drive). Include all the stops on the way and you will have a long day ahead! Though it is not impossible.

In summer days are really long (they never end in June!). It is a great time to take a day trip along the South Coast from Reykjavik. In winter, it might be a little more complicated with very short days and therefore, little time to visit the places. Although in winter, you can skip Dyrhólaey lighthouse (there will be no Puffins), as well as the plane wreck which is too dangerous.

You can also jump on a tour so you don’t have to drive and can enjoy a nice rest between stops. There are very good day trips from Reykjavik that stop at all the places we mentioned above, except the plane wreck:

If you want to visit the plane, this tour offers an ATV trip: It is a fun activity that avoids walking on a boring-ish path for 8km – South Coast and Black Beach ATV Ride – 11 hours – €247 – Rated 5/5 out of 10+ reviews – Follow the coastline of South Iceland in a guided coach tour before stepping onto an ATV for a thrilling ride to the Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck.

Alternatively, you can focus on a specific activity or place:

• Sólheimajökull: Guided Glacier Hike – 3 hours from Vik – €76 – Rated 4.7/5 from 200+ reviews – Experience the Sólheimajökull Glacier from a different perspective on a family-friendly hike across the ice. Get magnificent views of the crevasses and glacier mills on a small group experience with a certified glacier guide.
• ATV Quad Bike 2-Hour Safari – 2 hours from tour’s office near Vik – €138 – Rated 4.8/5 out of 20+ reviews – A 2-hour ATV quad bike adventure at the foot of Mýrdalsjökull Glacier on the southern coast of Iceland. Including the famous DC3 plane wreck.
• Paragliding Tandem Flight – from Vik – €315 – Enjoy a paragliding passenger flight in some of the most beautiful scenery in the world in Vík, South Iceland.

Wildlife Watching ¦ Half-day trips

In Iceland, depending on the season you can see Whales and Puffins. While you can find puffins on your own by visiting sea cliffs and certain islands, you will need to join a tour to go whale watching. The good news is that you can easily go whale watching directly from Reykjavik harbour. When it comes to puffin watching, you can see them from land or from the sea. From Reykjavik, it is a lot easier by boat, but if you want to see them from land, you will need access to a car as the birds aren’t found in or near the capital.

Whale watching from Reykjavik

While whales can be seen all year long in Reykjavik bay, you will have more chances to spot one or more during summer. Between April and October, most of the migratory species gather along the coast of Iceland to feed, however, most don’t enter Reykjavik bay. The main species that can be seen during the season from the capital are Humpback whales and Minke (as well as some dolphin species). To see larger marine mammals such as Fin or Blue whales, you would need to go further out at sea. Unfortunately, most tours from Reykjavik don’t venture this far. Though, seeing Humpback whales feeding and breaching (if you are lucky) is in itself an incredible encounter.

If you want to see bigger whales and even orcas, your best bet is to take a tour from Husavik or Olafsvik. Though, no tour from Reykjavik will take you there for the day just for whale watching.

In Reykjavik, you can choose between different types of boats to go whale watching. You can either hop on a tourist boat with a lot of space on the top deck to walk around or take a RIB Speedboat. With the latter, you can’t move around but you get a lot closer to the animal and the water. It is also a lot of fun!

Personally, I went on the tourist boat and it was really nice and comfortable. The guide was really interesting and shared great information about the whales. Here is the tour I booked:

Puffin watching from Reykjavik

Puffins are small birds known for their colourful beak. They travel to Iceland in the summer to breed and feed, so if you visit the country from May to mid-August you have all your chances to see them. Because puffins nest on cliffs, there are a few places to see the colonies around Iceland directly from the land.

• Krýsuvíkurbjarg cliffs, on the south of Reykjanes peninsula, is the closest place to Reykjavik. Here you will see a lot of different bird species such as Guillemots and Razorbills. In the summer, some puffins nest on the cliff as well but their number is quite small.
• Your best bet if you drive from Reykjavik to see puffin on a day trip, is at Dýrhólaey lighthouse or nearby the rock arch. It is a long drive but as mentioned previously, you can include the stop as part of your South coast day trip.

However, near Reykjavik, most puffin colonies nest on the coastline of nearby islands where they are hidden away. These islands can only be accessed by boat with a tour:

• Puffin Watching Boat Tour – 1 hour – €45 – Rated 4.6/5 stars with 140+ reviews – Take in the natural beauty and wildlife of Iceland on this puffin-watching boat trip. Depart from the Old Harbour in Reykjavik on an hour-long tour and see these amazing and adorable birds up close in their native habitats.
• RIB Speed-Boat Puffin Watching Tour – 1 hour – €48 – Rated 4.2/5 stars with 5+ reviews – Experience the wonders of puffins in the wild on this 1-hour speedboat trip from Reykjavik. Be taken to some of the leading puffin islands in Iceland, and learn how Iceland is home to 60% of the world’s puffin population.
• Half–day Whales and Puffins Combo Tour – 4 hours – €114 – 4.2/5 stars out of 80+ reviews – Go whale and puffin watching in gloriously beautiful Reykjavík.

Northern Lights ¦ Evening trips

Due to its latitude location close to the pole, Iceland is a great destination to see Northern Lights. Even if this natural phenomenon happens pretty much all year long, the solar particles attracted by the Northern Hemisphere magnetic field tend to be a lot stronger during winter. It is also the best time to witness the Aurora because the days are very short and darkness can last up to 18 hours per day!

It is, therefore, best to travel to Iceland to see the Aurora Borealis from mid-November to mid-March. To check the day length in Iceland during your visit, you can use this website. I also use the Photographer’s Ephemeris website to check where to expect the sun to set or rise. It is an excellent tool for photographers. Tips to see the Northern Light in Iceland:

• Avoid city light pollution;
• Make sure to look toward the North;
• You will need a clear sky (no clouds or fog);
• Wear warm clothes and bring hot drinks;
• Check out this article to learn how to take photos of Northern lights.

How to see the Northern Lights from Reykjavik?

To see the Aurora Borealis, it is best to escape the city lights and look for a pitch-black area. Reykjavik is the largest city in the country but it is still possible to see the Northern lights from town directly when they are strong enough. Although this is not always the case so escaping town is always better.

If you don’t have access to a car, a popular destination is Grótta lighthouse and its beach. You can also go to Skarfagarðs Lighthouse or Öskjuhlíð park. If the solar activity is strong enough, look north and you should see the lights!

In case you have access to a car, we would recommend going North towards the Snæfellsnes peninsula. A beautiful spot to watch the Northern lights is from the famous Kirkjufell mountain. It is doable to do it on a day trip but might be best to spend the night there instead of driving back to the city. As a quick out-and-back trip, Þingvellir National Park is a nice spot with almost no lights around. In any case, just drive out to the countryside. If the lights are there you will see them! Just make sure to park safely.

Driving by night in winter can be challenging in Iceland. If you aren’t comfortable with this, you might want to join a Northern lights tour. Guides are experienced and can also give you photography tips. We would also recommend booking the tour at the beginning of your stay. Most companies will let you join a second time for free if you don’t see the lights on the first attempt. 

There are a lot of different options from Reykjavik. One of the most unusual is to go on a cruise and see the light at sea. Although, we wouldn’t recommend this tour if you’re into photography as you need a lot of stability for long exposure, which is something you cannot have on a boat. If you are like us and want to capture the beauty of the Auroras with your camera, take a bus tour instead:

blue lagoon ¦ Half-day trip from Reykjavik

Due to dangerous volcanic activity nearby, the Blue Lagoon has been closed. To check the latest new, visit the official website here.

Blue Lagoon is a popular day trip from Reykjavik. Located near the airport, in the heart of the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, the Blue Lagoon is a beautiful spa where you can relax at the start or end of your trip. The pool is highly photogenic with its blue waters in the middle of volcanic rocks.

However, visiting the Blue Lagoon is worth a lot more than an Instagram post. As per the official spa’s website “the geothermal seawater is 70% ocean water and 30% freshwater, enriched with silica and algae.” – Thanks to this rich mineral composition, the blue waters are meant to “rejuvenate and nourish”. Of course, is it also highly relaxing to soak into 38⁰C (100⁰F) waters, mainly in winter, when it is snowing around!

After a couple of hours in the pool, don’t miss the opportunity to walk around, outside the spa centre. There are a few trails you can follow back to the car park.

Read: 10 best hot springs in Iceland

How to visit the Blue Lagoon from Reykjavik?

Due to dangerous volcanic activity nearby, the Blue Lagoon has been closed. To check the latest new, visit the official website here.

The Blue Lagoon is only 45 min drive from Reykjavik or 20 min from the airport. For this reason, most tourists stop at the bath as soon as they pick up their rental car or before returning it and flying home. The entrance fee starts at €46 per person, depending on the time of your visit and the package chosen. You can also dine at one of the 4 restaurants/cafes or spend the night at the Silica hotel or the Retreat hotel for a luxurious treat.

If you don’t have a car, you can book a bus transfer from Reykjavik (€38 return). If you have small luggage, you can also transfer with Airport direct from the airport to Reykjavik with a stop at the Blue Lagoon (or vice versa). Although we would recommend coupling the visit with another tour instead (so it is really worth the price!). Transfers tend to be expensive in Iceland.

• Fagradalsfjall Volcano Hike and Blue Lagoon entrance & transfer from Reykjavik – 10 hours – €160
• Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, and Blue Lagoon – 11 hours – €179- rated 4.9/5 stars out of 500+ reviews
• Blue Lagoon and Northern Lights Tour – 8 hours – €192 (in winter)

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Jökulsárlón Glacier is one of the 30 outlets of Vatnajökull National Park, the largest Ice Cap in Europe. From the shore, you can see the glacier dropping into a clear blue lagoon dotted with icebergs. There are a few viewpoints and walks around the lagoon to best appreciate the scenery.

One of the most impressive aspects of this landmark is the fact icebergs float through a small strand of water out of the lagoon before crashing into the Atlantic Ocean. Here, they are washed out by the waves onto a black sand beach. With the sun, the icebergs reflect like Diamonds! No wonder why it is called Diamond beach.

However, the incredible Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is more than 400km east of Reykjavik. It is quite a trek to get there, that’s for sure, but not impossible! Although, we wouldn’t recommend you to drive yourself this long for just a day trip.

If you have a car, visit Jökulsárlón and Diamond beach as part of a longer road trip. A minimum of 3 days is surely necessary but we would recommend a 7-day itinerary to visit the South Coast, Golden Circle, Reykjavik Peninsula and Jökulsárlón Glacier. You can check it out here.

How to visit the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon from Reykjavik within a day?

If you don’t have that much time and really want to see the icebergs, taking a tour from Reykjavik is your best bet. The below tour we recommend is 14 hours long and will take you all the way to the Jökulsárlón glacier where you can book an optional boat trip on the lagoon. It will also take you to diamond beach, Vik and the waterfall Seljalandsfoss on the way back.

Other Day trips from Reykjavik

• Landmannalaugar – 4 hours – €91 – Enjoy a day tour to the Southern Highland of Fjallabak to explore Iceland’s Landmannalaugar and Hekla Volcano area. Hike through Laugahraun, Vondugil Canyon and Brennisteinsalda, before relaxing in a natural hot spring.
• Snæfellsnes peninsula – 11 hours – €115 – Also called “miniature Iceland”, you will visit the Snæfellsjökull glacier, a few black sand beaches (Djúpalónssandur), a charming fishing village (Grundarfjordur) and stop at the famous mountain of Kirkjufell.
• Silver Circle – 9 hours – €139 – Through the wild landscapes of West Iceland visit Deildartunguhver (a powerful hot spring), Hraunfossar (the lava waterfall) and Barnafoss waterfall, Husafell (turf houses), before heading to Deildargil Canyon and Langifoss by 4WD and bathing at the Canyon Baths.
• Langjökull Glacier Ice Cave – 3.5 hours – €143 – Enter the 2nd largest glacier in Iceland via the man-made Langjökull Glacier tunnel
• Snorkel in Silfra Fissure – 3 hours – €122 – Snorkel between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates at the Pingvellir National Park.
• Snowmobile trip with Golden Circle – 11 hours – €218 – Visit the Golden circle before riding a snowmobile through Europe’s biggest glacier (Langjökull).

MAP ¦ DAY TOURS from Reykjavik

In this map, we have documented the route described above to help you plan for your day trips from Reykjavik. We have also pinned the few extra activities we believe are worth doing if you have some time left in Reykjavik.

ARE YOU PLANNING A TRIP TO ICELAND?

We have a lot of articles about travelling in Iceland and add new ones each month. Check out our latest guides below to prepare for your trip…

• 10+ Must-See Waterfalls in Iceland
• Best Day Trips from Reykjavik
• Self-Drive Guide to the Golden Circle
• 5 Beautiful Black Sand Beaches
• Top Day Hikes in Iceland
• Iceland on a Budget
• Exploring Vatnajokull National Park
• 7-day Road-Trip Itinerary to the South Coast
• 10 best hot springs in Iceland

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About the Author

Jen is the Funder, Author & Photographer behind Talesfromthelens.com

Jen has lived for the past 15 years across Oceania and Ireland while also travelling in Latin America, North America, and Europe. She has visited more than 65 countries and set foot on every continent in the world! She is a coffee nerd, passionate about photography, wildlife, and outdoor activities.

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